Loading platform



Feb. 24, 1948.

LOADING PLATFORM Filed Dec 18, 1.946

A H.Losch- HTTYS Patented Feb. 24, 1948 LOADING PLATFORM Albert Arthur Losch, Rydalmere, New South Wales, Australia, assignor to R. G. Le Tourneau, Inc., Stockton, Calif., a corporation of California Application December is, 1946, Serial, No. 711,015 In Australia December 21, 1945 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to means whereby trucks may be loaded with soil or other material by the aid of a bulldozer.

It frequently happens that when working with a bulldozer soil for example is required to be transported in trucks to another site and consequently the problem arises as to the provision of means for raising the soil above the level of the bulldozer blade.

The present invention provides means whereby the pushing action of the bulldozer may be utilised for lifting the soil above the height of the sides of the truck body so that it may fall therein by gravity.

According to the present invention a pair of arch members is set up at the loading site the height of the top of the arch and the spread being such that a truck may be drawn up thereunder.

The said arch members are spaced apart a distance preferably equal to the length of the truck and at least equal to the width of the bulldozer blade proposed to be used. On the inside face of each arch member a plurality of slotted brackets or the like is provided, with each of which a transverse member is removably engaged thus forming a skeleton ramp, the spacing of the transverse members being such that an open space is provided at the apex of the arches.'

Arcuate ramp plates, preferably of corrugated metal, for strength, are placed upon the said transverse members and extend from ground level on either side of the arch to the said open space.

For convenience in transport each arch member may be formed in two arcuate portions capable of being interlocked at the top by lugs and pins or bolts or other suitable securing means. The said arch members may be of welded box-like section and may have reinforcing plates where found necessary.

Wings are provided to flank each arch member and these may be removably secured for example by angle iron hook members engaging slotted or spaced plates carried by the said arch members, the construction being such that pressure upon the wing tends to secure it by a thrusting action of the wing against the side of the arch member with the hook members as a pivot.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view looking through the arch members of the device.

Figure 2 is a detail plan view illustrating the lugs for connecting two arch members.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the method of operating the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the assembled device with portion of the ramp plates broken away to show the transverse members.

' Figure 5 is a detail view of portion of one of the arch members showing its box section and the manner in which the respective transverse tion members In provided with lugs l l and secured I together by pins or bolts I2.

member ll of the bracket l3, the members ll and I3 being welded to the face plate It.

Wings I8 which are shown diagrammatically are provided to maintain a clear passageway for the truck being loaded, said wings being secured in position in any suitable manner.

Arcuate ramp plates [9 which preferably are corrugated, are placed upon the transverse members l4 and extend from ground level upwardly leaving an opening 20 at the top through which the soil is pushed into the truck beneath.

In use, see Figure 3, the device is erected on the site, a truck 2| is backed beneath the arch members In and then a bulldozer 22 is used to push the soil up against the arcuate ramp plates l9 upon which it collects until sufficient soil has been placed in position to enable the bulldozer 22 to use it as a ramp for pushing further soil through the opening 20 into the said truck 2|.

' It will be appreciated that the form of the arch imembers l0 and the parts associated therewith may be, varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. Improvements relating to loading platfor for use with bulldozers, comprising a plurality of arch members spaced apart and connected by a plurality of transverse members, and ramp plates disposed upon said transverse members, said ramp plates extending from ground level upwardly and terminating so as to leave an opening through 4 whereby the respective members are connected by pins or bolts.

4. Improvements relating to loading platforms as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each arch member is provided on the inside with slotted brackets adapted to receive respectively complementary ends of the said transverse members.

ALBERT ARTHUR LOSCH. 

